Maritza East Power Station

Maritza East Power Station, is proposed to have an installed capacity of 750 megawatts; the estimated cost is 950 million euros. The Bulgarian government is calling for tenders for the construction of the new project with interest reported to have been expressed by AES, Enel, CEZ, E.ON, EVN and Bulgarian businessman Hristo Kovachki.

In June 2011, AES Corp. put into operation the €1.2 billion ($1.74 billion) coal plant in southern Bulgaria. Plant officials said that initial capacity will be 420 megawatts and the plant will reach 600 megawatts by the end of the year, which amounts to 9 percent of Bulgaria’s installed power capacity. The plant will get its coal through a 15-year lignite supply agreement with the state-owned mining company, Maritsa East Mines, and a 15-year power purchase agreement with Bulgaria’s state-owned electricity monopoly, NEC. Funding was provided by a group of banks led by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Related SourceWatch Articles

 * Bulgaria and coal
 * Europe and coal
 * Global use and production of coal

External Articles

 * Sia Velinova, "Bulgaria Maritsa Iztok Picks Favourite",  SeeNews, June 8, 2007.